Beirut, 1st November 2008. It was a very pleasant duty to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ordination of our brother Fr. Giuseppe Incelli, who has been in the Custody for 73 years, many of which he has spent in the Beirut convent. We were helped by the group of Italian friends who regularly attend the Holy Mass on Saturday evenings, which Fr. Giuseppe celebrates in Italian. Now that the summer is over and after the feast-day of St. Francis, parish life having returned to its usual pace, together we decided to celebrate the important anniversary on 1st November, the feast-day of All Saints.
The friends passed the word round and everybody helped with joy and goodwill. The brothers from Harissa were invited to take part; there were some unexpected events but in the end, on Saturday 1st November, after the Mass in French, the church was prepared for the celebration of the jubilee. The numerous guests participated with affection and devotion. The faithful included in particular some soldiers from the Italian contingent of the UN force, responsible for guarding the port, which is not far from the convent.
Fr. Giuseppe Incelli, very moved, celebrated the Mass with a steady voice despite being eighty-seven, thanking the Lord for the long life that He has granted him to spend in the service of the Holy Land, including Lebanon and Syria.
During the Liturgy of the Word, we were surprised by the arrival of the Italian Ambassador. We knew that he was in Italy but – as he explained to us later – as soon as his plane landed, he came straight to our church. He attached great importance to being present to honour an Italian friar who has served the Middle East for so many years!
At the end of the Mass, Fr. Giuseppe recalled the main phases of his service in the Holy Land, from when he arrived from Italy at 13. He thanked the Custody of the Holy Land, especially the brothers who have accompanied him during these years. His speech, which is attached to this account, was received with sincere applause, expressing our affection and that of the many people present. More applause greeted Fr. Angelico Pilla who this year celebrated 50 years of priesthood.
The celebratory mood did not distract us from the memory of Fr. Michele Piccirillo, who was very recently recalled to the House of the Lord. For the Lord, a thousand years are like one day. What is important is to make them fertile with the grace of God.
After Mass, the celebration continued in the diwan (reception room) of the convent, where the table was laid with many home-made dishes, and then shared for the joy of all, surrounding our very dear Fr. Giuseppe with great affection.
Fr. Joseph Costantin ofm
The friends passed the word round and everybody helped with joy and goodwill. The brothers from Harissa were invited to take part; there were some unexpected events but in the end, on Saturday 1st November, after the Mass in French, the church was prepared for the celebration of the jubilee. The numerous guests participated with affection and devotion. The faithful included in particular some soldiers from the Italian contingent of the UN force, responsible for guarding the port, which is not far from the convent.
Fr. Giuseppe Incelli, very moved, celebrated the Mass with a steady voice despite being eighty-seven, thanking the Lord for the long life that He has granted him to spend in the service of the Holy Land, including Lebanon and Syria.
During the Liturgy of the Word, we were surprised by the arrival of the Italian Ambassador. We knew that he was in Italy but – as he explained to us later – as soon as his plane landed, he came straight to our church. He attached great importance to being present to honour an Italian friar who has served the Middle East for so many years!
At the end of the Mass, Fr. Giuseppe recalled the main phases of his service in the Holy Land, from when he arrived from Italy at 13. He thanked the Custody of the Holy Land, especially the brothers who have accompanied him during these years. His speech, which is attached to this account, was received with sincere applause, expressing our affection and that of the many people present. More applause greeted Fr. Angelico Pilla who this year celebrated 50 years of priesthood.
The celebratory mood did not distract us from the memory of Fr. Michele Piccirillo, who was very recently recalled to the House of the Lord. For the Lord, a thousand years are like one day. What is important is to make them fertile with the grace of God.
After Mass, the celebration continued in the diwan (reception room) of the convent, where the table was laid with many home-made dishes, and then shared for the joy of all, surrounding our very dear Fr. Giuseppe with great affection.
Fr. Joseph Costantin ofm